cameras for pics whats best?

[greedykind]

What is the best camera(cheap) or video device to take into the field?I have tried to take close ups of coins with my kodak z18 but will not focus.Thanks charlie

 

[Idaho PRB]

Any digital camera with a Macro setting will take good close-ups for posting pictures of coins. As far as video, I just don't know. Someone else will be able to help in that department.

 

[Goes4ever]

the zi8 is known for not doing good closeups, the zi6 is an older model but does way better closeups for in the field

 

[Bill M]

The Nikon L22 is a great choice, around $99 dollars at Best Buy.

 

[tippyhound]

I too have asked this same question not so long ago. Go to Page 4 of this forum and find my request for answers to your exact question. Read Nick A.'s replies and see what he is doing with a Canon Power Shot A1100 IS. This camera is available on E-Bay at some pretty good prices. Can't hurt to check it out. Rick -Illinois

 

[BHNugget]

For video I got the Flip Ultra HD.Its small, works pretty good and is easy to use.Its downside is that it doesnt do close ups real good,such as zooming in on a coin in your hand.The newer Mino HD will do a little better on close ups.BH Photo has them for a little over a hundred bucks.

 

[Prep1957]

I have not bought it yet but the I KAM looks kinda neat they are sun glasses there top of line model is around 170 dollars.

 

[Bell-Two]

the zi8 is known for not doing good closeups, the zi6 is an older model but does way better closeups for in the field

The trick with the Zi8 on closeups is this, take it out of macro then zoom in on the coin or object and then put it in macro, it will do a very good job if done in that proceedure.

Here is an example taken under plain lamp light

 

[tippyhound]

I wish you would tell that to my Canon A540 . (The attached photo's is the best I have ever got out of it no matter what I've tried ) I have read that manual from front to back and nothing I try makes any difference.. It's a half way decent photo but no real detail, and that's as close to the subject as I can get and get any kind of focus.. And that's using a table top tripod in Manual and Auto Macro settings. I've owned a lot cheaper cameras that did a lot better job..

 

[Bell-Two]

I wish you would tell that to my Canon A540 . (The attached photo's is the best I have ever got out of it no matter what I've tried ) I have read that manual from front to back and nothing I try makes any difference.. It's a half way decent photo but no real detail, and that's as close to the subject as I can get and get any kind of focus.. And that's using a table top tripod in Manual and Auto Macro settings. I've owned a lot cheaper cameras that did a lot better job..

I too have a Canon A540 and it takes decent closeups

Here is an example

 

[tippyhound]

Tell me what I'm doing wrong. I've spent hours trying everything I can think of. I tried different lighting, the highest resolution it offers, different shutter speeds. I've tried holding the photo button down half way to lock the photo before capturing it. I've used manual Macro to adjust focus manually, and I had better luck getting the best photo's using auto Macro. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. My old camera everything was manual and the photo detail was phenomenal.

 

[tippyhound]

Hows This any better?

 

[nge]

I use a Fuji FinePix non SLR S2000HD I have real good success with it in macro, this pic of this Merc is not the best I can do, but it shows that with a decent camera, the sky is the limit. My lens was sitting right on top of the dime, I had to use side lighting. Also, for those without a Macro setting on their camera's, put a 10X loupe in front of your lens, focus and take pic, you will be surprised.....NGE

 

[Bell-Two]

Hows This any better?

Looks pretty good to me I would be satisfied with that.

 

[Ohio bud]

Bell Two--Thanks for the information on this. I got the Zi8 and wish I had gotten the Zi6 because of the Macro focus. I will give it a try. What distance do you start the zoom from?

Ohio Bud

 

[Bell-Two]

Bell Two--Thanks for the information on this. I got the Zi8 and wish I had gotten the Zi6 because of the Macro focus. I will give it a try. What distance do you start the zoom from?

Ohio Bud

Dosen't matter just zoom then flip to macro, and sometimes you have to move it back or in a bit. You can select by what size or if you want just a particular part to be macro for example the .925 marking on silver jewelery or the date or mint mark on coin. Just experiment a bit.

This is a tip with the macro mode on the Kodak Zi8.

Step 1: Make sure you are in the normal focus mode. Step 2: Zoom all the way in. Step 3: Switch into macro mode and enjoy getting very close up shots on details!!

The macro mode on the Kodak Zi8 is just okayy. Its a cool feature to have but even better if you can get really good close ups. This little trick solves this problem.

Here is a video showing how. You can do this for filming or taking stills.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZBR-6qrND0[/video]

 

[greedykind]

Wow that works now it says file cant be larger than 420 kb how do i take or upload under that?

 

[greedykind]

How was you holding the zi8 in the video?Is there a tripod of some sort?Thanks charlie

 

[Bell-Two]

Wow that works now it says file cant be larger than 420 kb how do i take or upload under that?

A simple way to reduce pictures is with Microsoft Paint, which is an accesory with the windows operating system. Simply go to file, click open select the picture you want to modify. Select image and click on stretch and skew. You will se a box that has horizontal and the 100% is highlighted change that, I generally use 22% highlight the vertical to 22% also click on OK and it will be reduced then save that under same name or different whatever you prefer. You can then go on image and click attributes and it will tell you the actual dimension of your picture and you can compare that to the size requirement for the forum you are posting on. If it is still too big repeat process with the new image but use a larger percentage this time perhaps 80%

 

[Bell-Two]

How was you holding the zi8 in the video?Is there a tripod of some sort?Thanks charlie

That was not my video just one I found on internet you tube.